Electrical Room exit requirement

[tolind]

Where in the 2002 National Electrical Code can you find information about the minimum required exits from an electrcial room? The space I am creating is mostly a curtian to shield equipment from the service. I'm pretty sure I need to have two exits from the room but I need to prove my point to the architect. Thanks in advance.

 

[dpc]

It depends on the size of the service and size of equipment:

Article 110:

(C) Entrance to Working Space.
(1) Minimum Required. At least one entrance of sufficient area shall be provided to give access to working space about electrical equipment.
(2) Large Equipment. For equipment rated 1200 amperes or more and over 1.8 m (6 ft) wide that contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control devices, there shall be one entrance to the required working space not less than 610 mm (24 in.) wide and 2.0 m (6½ ft) high at each end of the working space. Where the entrance has a personnel door(s), the door(s) shall open in the direction of egress and be equipped with panic bars, pressure plates, or other devices that are normally latched but open under simple pressure.
A single entrance to the required working space shall be permitted where either of the conditions in 110.26(C)(2)(a) or (b) is met.
(a) Unobstructed Exit. Where the location permits a continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel, a single entrance to the working space shall be permitted.
(b) Extra Working Space. Where the depth of the working space is twice that required by 110.26(A)(1), a single entrance shall be permitted. It shall be located so that the distance from the equipment to the nearest edge of the entrance is not less than the minimum clear distance specified in Table 110.26(A)(1) for equipment operating at that voltage and in that condition.

 

[robertb]

Please note that electrical room may require fire rated walls, see NFPA 110-5.2.1 & 5.2.2; NFPA 75-appendix C, fig B-1; NFPA 13-5.13.11.

 

[jbartos]

Comment: It may also depend on the electrical equipment room applications. There are many small electrical distribution and electrical equipment rooms in Subways without adequate working space; however, they are staying operational like that without any corrective actions.

 

[alehman]

Comment to the previous post - situations such as those are commonly old installations constructed before the current code requirements, or are not in NEC jurisdiction (e.g. government-owned facilities or facilities under control of a utility company).

 

[jbartos]

Comment on the previous posting: This is what was implied under "It may also depend on the electrical room applications." The Subway specifications reference NFPA 70 NEC for adherence.

 

[jbartos]

Comments: The cited NFPA 70 NEC does not explicitly address Electrical Rooms. It only addresses working spaces. Apparently, electrical rooms may also be covered by other documents, e.g. specifications, etc.